No Way Out by Fern Michaels (great books for teens .TXT) 📗

Mitch looked down at his feet. “Yes. But before you say no, I want you to understand how much I need this. Not just for me, but for Jackson. I want to be able to pay good child support.”

“You and Colleen gettin’ a divorce?”

“Most likely. But I’m going to do my darn best to make it easy for Jackson. A broken home isn’t good for anyone.” Mitchel paused, trying to get a sense of what direction Otto was going. “I know you knew my pop, but I really didn’t. I was only ten when he died, so I don’t know much about being a father, and I don’t want to blow it with Jackson. He’s a really good kid and deserves some kind of stability.”

Otto was nodding. Mitchel thought it was a good sign.

“Otto, I really need the job.” Mitchel was on the verge of groveling.

“How’m I gonna trust you to show up?” Otto peered at him.

“I know it’s a lot to ask, after all the bull I put you through, but I’d like to think I’m changing for the better. I know I did good work.”

Otto interrupted and repeated the reminder. “When you showed up.”

Mitch put his hands up. “I know. I know.” He took a deep breath. “I’ll tell you what. You take me back, and I’ll work overtime for regular pay.”

Otto scratched the stubble on his face. “How many hours overtime are you talkin’?”

Mitch was calculating in his head. “Ten? Twelve?”

“A week?”

“If necessary.”

“For how long?”

“Six months?” Mitchel figured he had nothing to lose at this point.

Otto thought a minute, wiped his hands again, and put it out to shake Mitch’s. “You better watch your butt. When can you start?”

A huge wave of relief came over Mitch. He thought he would cry. “Thanks, Otto. I promise, I will not disappoint you. I can start today. The only time off I’ll need is for court, but I’ll work late to get any of the jobs done.”

Otto threw the towel at him. “Go suit up. Your old uniform is still in the back. I was going to burn it, but then I decided I didn’t want a grease fire.” Otto chuckled. He was glad to have his top mechanic back. He wouldn’t let on, but he had lost a couple of good customers, and now he could tell them Mitch was back.

Mitch was walking on air. Obstacle one was out of the way.

His court date for the hearing was in two days, then the custody hearing in a week. At least he was gainfully employed. He felt the urge to call someone. He decided it was Elaine. She had been good to him in spite of his bad behavior, and she was a warm, welcome ear earlier that day. He dialed her number.

“Hello, Mitch?” She saw his name come up on the caller ID. “Everything all right?”

“Hey, Elaine. Everything is fine and dandy. Otto gave me my job back.”

“That’s great! When do you start?”

“I’m here now. I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for your hospitality, breakfast, and those prayers.” Mitchel’s voice essentially sounded upbeat. “I’m sure you were prayin’ for me to get out.” He laughed.

Elaine knew it wasn’t far from the truth, but she was happy for him and Jackson anyway.

Mitchel continued. “I’m going to have to figure out some kind of living situation for myself, so if you can bear with me for another couple of weeks, until the hearings are over, I would greatly appreciate it. And I’ll give you guys some cash for letting me stay there.”

“That’s fine, Mitchel. We’ll try to help out as much as possible.”

“Thanks, Elaine. It’s very much appreciated.” Mitchel was still trying to avoid getting choked up. “I better get inside before Otto changes his mind.”

“Good idea!” Elaine laughed. “Good luck! See you later.”

“Bye.” Mitch clicked off the phone and wiped the small tear at the corner of his eye.

Chapter Thirty

Ellie was pleased at how easy it had been to have Hector in the house. She had felt no anxiety or panic once she let him in. Their conversation was congenial and friendly. Not that she would have expected anything less, but it was a new experience for both of them. She was feeling emotionally stronger and decided to call Zach to share her progress.

When she explained to the therapist that she had invited someone into her space and had coffee, he was thoroughly pleased at Ellie’s progress. “Do you think you’ll do it again?” Zach asked Ellie.

“Yes. I want to invite Colleen, Jackson’s mom, over for tea. She must have invited me a dozen times, and I always felt I had to decline.”

“How are the nightmares?”

“I’ve only had one lately.”

“What do you think brought it on?”

Ellie sighed. “My friend Kara got in touch to tell me that Rick called her husband looking for a loan.”

“What did he say?”

“According to Kara, Rick wanted $5,000 to invest in a start-up company. But get this, he wanted it sent via PayPal.”

“That’s an odd way to get capital for an investment,” Zach noted.

“Exactly.”

“When was the last time anyone heard from Rick?”

Ellie paused. “It was around the time I was in the hospital.”

“And no one has heard from him until this recent phone call?”

“Not anyone I know of.” Ellie wasn’t aware of any contact.

“So, after two years, he calls your friend’s husband to ask for a loan?” He waited, but it was clearly a rhetorical question. “Doesn’t that strike you as odd?” That one was not rhetorical.

“Of course it does. I think that’s why I had a nightmare.”

“Do you think he’s trying to locate you?” her therapist asked. The thought gave Ellie the chills.

“As far as I know, he hasn’t contacted my mother, who would be the obvious choice if that’s what he was doing. And from what Kara told me, he didn’t ask about me.”

“How does that make you feel?” The typical therapist question.

“Honestly, I haven’t given it any thought until now.” Ellie wasn’t lying.

“So, your friend tells